The term premed is short for "premedication" and applies to a small fraction of dental patients who experience very specific health complications. These complications can include people who have had artificial joints placed, artificial heart valves placed, organ transplants, history of heart infection, or congenital heart defects. In these specific health conditions, your dentist may prescribe a antibiotic to be taken approximately 1 hour prior to dental treatment (this includes hygiene therapy!).
During a typical dental visit, bacteria can be released into the bloodstream. When certain medical conditions exist, the bacteria within the bloodstream are given the opportunity to attach themselves to the artificial valves, the prosthetic joints, or the malfunctioning heart. If this occurs around a prosthetic joint, it can lead to severe infection and joint failure. If this occurs around the heart or the heart's lining, it can create a condition known as "infective endocarditis", or heart infection.
Artificial joint infections and heart infections are extremely dangerous conditions, and can result in joint failure or heart failure. If there is a medical condition present that warrants a premedication, the dentist or dental hygienist may even refuse to administer treatment until the premedication has been taken.
The purpose of a premedication is the prevention of very dangerous complications. A premed is taken very seriously by dental and health professionals, and prescriptions can be quite easily obtained. The "usual" prescription is derived from the penicillin family of antibiotics, so be sure to let your dentist know if you have any medication, food, or material allergies.
For more information, please visit the website for the American Heart Association.
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3047051
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